INTRODUCTION

Paul’s second letter to Timothy continues from the first. It seems like Timothy is still in Ephesus and that the problems mostly remain the same. One difference is that the adversity may have affected Timothy a little (1:6-8, 2:1).

This is Paul’s last letter, and he does not expect to remain alive much longer (4:6-8). He is again in prison, and 2:9 indicates that this time he does not have as much freedom as during his previous prison stay (Acts 28:16, 30). This letter is Paul’s instructions to Timothy to continue the work and combat heresy. He encourages him to be strong in faith, to persevere, and not to be afraid. He must complete the service, guard the truth and pass it on to “trustworthy people who are able to teach others” (2:2).

2 Timothy may have been written around AD 64.

SITUATION

• Paul is in prison again. The first hearing has already happened (4:16)
• He knows he will soon die. Last letter and “2^nd to last” word to Timothy (4:6-9)
• There are false teachers in Ephesus who need to be dealt with.
• Paul’s last letter, traditionally dated to ca. AD 64

CLUES IN THE LETTER

• quarreling about words, who ruins the listeners (2:14)
• irreverent babble and ungodliness (2:16)
• the false teaching has to be stopped before it spreads (2:17)
• Hymenaeus and Philetus have swerved from the truth and say that the resurrection already has taken place (2:17-18)
• foolish, ignorant controversies (2:23)
• come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil (2:26)
• have the appearance of godliness (3:5)
• capture weak women (3:6)
• corrupted in mind (3:8)
• myths (4:4)

STRUCTURE

1:1 – 2:13        Encouragement to Timothy

2:14 – 4:5        Stop the false teaching

4:6-22             Paul’s situation

APPEAL TO LOYALTY DESPITE HARDSHIP (1:6-14)

1. Do not be ashamed of:

A. the testimony about our Lord

• because of the power of the Spirit both in him and in the gospel (v. 7)

B. Paul as the Lord’s prisoner

• seemed like a criminal, and all in Asia had turned away from him (v. 15)
• Paul himself is not ashamed. He knows God will guard what he entrusted to Paul. (v. 12)

2. Share in the suffering for the gospel

• There are false teachers around, and people are turning away from Paul. Tim is perhaps not exactly where he should be. Perhaps he withdrew a little. (vv. 6-7)
• “Don’t be fearful but suffer!” Doesn’t say it will all be well, but appeals to the Christian “duty” of suffering for the gospel, like Paul himself does. (vv. 8, 12)
• In the power/Spirit of God (vv. 7, 8, 14)

FIRST PURPOSE OF THE LETTER:

To encourage Timothy:

1. Do not be ashamed of:

• the testimony about our Lord
• Paul as the Lord’s prisoner

2. Share in the suffering for the gospel

V15-18: EXAMPLES OF DISLOYALTY AND LOYALTY

Disloyalty:

• “…all who are in Asia turned away from me…” Acts 19:10
• “…among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.”
• Either ashamed of Paul or left the faith altogether.

Loyalty:

• Onesiphorus not only “refreshed me [even Paul needed encouragement] and was not ashamed of my chains” but even “searched for me earnestly and found me”

Timothy should be like Onesiphorus and not like the rest of Asia (where Ephesus was).

THE APPEAL CONTINUES (2:1-13)

Entrust the gospel to faithful men who can teach others (2^nd purpose…) (v. 2)

The grace of Christ is a source of power to become like:

• a soldier (vv. 3-4): Share in the suffering (1:8) and don’t forget your mission
• an athlete (v. 5): The “rules” involve suffering
• a farmer (v. 6): Work hard and wait patiently for the results
• Jesus (v. 8): Resurrected after suffering
• Paul (vv. 9-10): Suffers like a criminal but endures everything for the sake of the elect

All of them were committed to something bigger than themselves and were willing to sacrifice and endure for a greater goal.

RESIST THE FALSE TEACHERS (2:14-21)

v. 14: To remind them of the previous saying? To warn them and wake them up?

vv. 14, 16: Quarreling also in 1 Tim 2:8, 6:4-5, and irreverent babble in 6:20. Seem to be a common thing for the false teachers.

v. 15: rightly handling the word of truth: presenting the gospel without quarreling

v. 17: Hymenaeus → 1 Tim 1:20. Made shipwreck of his faith and is blaspheming.

v. 18: Part of the false teaching was claiming that the resurrection had already happened. Sounds like early Gnosticism…

vv. 19-21: depart from iniquity… cleanses himself from what is dishonorable: perhaps specifically turning away from the false teaching

TIMOTHY’S RESPONSIBILITIES IN LIGHT OF THE FALSE TEACHING (2:22-26)

Flee and pursue: depart from iniquity and cleanse yourself from the dishonorable

Youthful passions: Love of the new, foolish discussions and arguments that lead to quarreling?

Instead of quarrels: Peace, not quarrelsome, kind to everyone, patiently enduring evil, correcting opponents with gentleness

Timothy should be the opposite of the false teachers. This would be efficient in convincing people who had been led astray by the false teachers.

It could also be that the false teachers themselves wake up and repent, and escape from the snare of the devil. They have been captured by him and Timothy should try to win them back.

BACK TO THE FALSE TEACHERS (3:1-9)

v. 1: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.” This should not come as a surprise, though, as 1 Tim 4:1 says “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”

v. 5: “appearance of godliness but denying its power”: empty religion

vv. 1-5 is somewhat connected to the false teachers, but more clearly vv. 6-9:

• Some issues with women in 1. Tim, esp. the young widows…
• These women never understand the gospel
• Jannes & Jambres: Pharaoh’s magicians in Ex 7-9 according to Jewish tradition.
• Do the false teachers use deception in the same way? It is only folly…

ANOTHER APPEAL TO LOYALTY AND ENDURANCE (3:10-17)

v. 10: “You, however”: Timothy as a contrast to the false teachers

Themes:

• their relationship (→ 1:4, 6, 13)
• Paul as a model of loyalty (1:8, 11-13, 2:9-10)
• suffering (1:8, 16, 2:3-6, 11-12)
• faith of his family (1:5)

v. 14: But as for you – Timothy as a contrast to the false teachers again. Imperative: Continue with what you have learned! (v. 14)…by:

• Remembering the past, esp. Paul’s teaching and example (vv. 10-11, 14-15)
• Using Scripture (vv. 15-17)

A. WHAT DOES PAUL MEAN BY “SCRIPTURE”? 

“The sacred writings” which Timothy has known from childhood: The Old Testament.

But how is the OT able to make one wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus?

The Bible shows us God’s plan of salvation where the point and the climax is “Jesus to all nations”

Therefore the OT points toward Jesus, but has an open ending…

The OT can lead to faith in Jesus because Jesus is the “answer” to the OT.

B . BUT PERHAPS MORE THAN THE OT AS WELL?

1. Tim 5:18 – The gospel of Luke is called “Scripture” before 2. Tim (ca. AD 63)

2. Pet 3:15-16 → several letters of Paul called “Scripture” ca. AD 64

How could they?

• The apostles were aware of their authority and their task
• Eph 2:20 → The apostles were part of the foundation of the church
• “Scripture” grew as the apostles wrote. The result became the NT, written by “the apostolic circle”.
• Principle → now we can say that the whole Bible is “God-breathed”

It is even more clear that the OT + NT make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ. The Bible creates faith when it is read.

C. WHAT DOES “GOD­-BREATHED ” MEAN?

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 3:16-17

Greek: “God-breathed” → Latin: “inspired by God”

The word is used only here, but God also “breathes” at other times:

• Gen 2:7, Acts 2:2…
• Breath = Spirit. When God breathes, things happen.
• You can’t speak without breathing.
• God’s Spirit is in the Bible. He breathes life into the words. In a way, the words then become his own words.

In what way are the words of men also the word of God? The point is not the process, but the result: The Spirit of God is in Scripture. Somehow the Bible ended up how God wanted it. The Bible works on us when we read it because God has breathed his Spirit into it.

D . HOW DOES GOD WORK THROUGH THE BIBLE?

Scripture is profitable for teaching:

• Good/sound “doctrine” is often mentioned in 1-2 Tim as a contrast to “false teaching”
• Timothy’s task: Use Scripture to give sound theological teaching in the gospel
• Obvious: The Bible gives us the right doctrine

Scripture is profitable for reproof:

• The false teachers have abused the Scriptures

• Timothy should use Scripture to expose their errors

Scripture is profitable for correction:

• Similar to reproof but more about ethics (?)
• Similar to training in righteousness
• Shows us the plan and will of God

“that… may be competent, equipped…”: = The purpose of the Bible

“for every good work”:

• stop the false teachers and help the church
• do the will of God

The purpose of studying the Bible is not to gain lots of knowledge, but so God can equip us to do his will.

When Paul knows he soon will die, he encourages Timothy to use the Scriptures. God works through them so that Timothy can be competent and equipped for the tasks also when Paul is there any longer. Scripture is all Timothy needs.

WHAT SHOULD THIS MEAN FOR US?

• We should believe that the Bible is the word of God and let it be the standard for everything else.
• We should remember that the Bible is about Jesus, not about us, and that it shows us God’s plan for the world (but then also for us).
• We should expect that God’s Spirit works in us when we read.
• We should read the Bible to get to know God and understand more of the gospel.
• We should read the Bible to grow in the faith and to be kept in the faith.
• We should read the Bible to know God’s will and to be equipped to do God’s will.
• We should read the Bible with unbelievers because it connects us to the most important person in the universe and creates faith.

FINAL CHARGE TO TIMOTHY (4:1-5)

• Eschatological overtones: An important task!
• Preach the word, and do what the Word is profitable for…
• Again Timothy should be a contrast to the false teachers.
• Theme: Endure hardship + prepare what follows.
• Timothy is still in the battle – while Paul has finished (v. 6-8)

PAUL’S SITUATION (4:6-22)

• Was this news to Timothy as well?
• Timothy has to fulfill his ministry (v. 5) because Paul is done (“For I…”), this is the 3^rd purpose. He is passing on the torch to Timothy.
• Wants to see Timothy before it is too late (v. 9, 1:4)
• Tychicus is perhaps sent to take over so that Timothy can go to Paul (v. 12)
• Alone (vv. 10-12), afraid of getting cold (v. 13), many Christians ashamed of him… (v. 16, 1:15)
• Still not bitter (v. 16)
• Finds strength in the Lord when people desert him (v. 17)
• An example of one who suffered for the gospel

PURPOSE(S) OF THE LETTER:

To encourage Timothy:

1. Do not be ashamed of:

• the testimony about our Lord
• Paul as the Lord’s prisoner

2. Share in the suffering for the gospel (1:8)

In light of Paul’s impending death…

1. Be ready to take over after Paul (4:5), incl. stopping false teaching.

2. Entrust the gospel to faithful men who can teach others (2:2).

Timothy is encouraged again and again to suffer for the gospel like Paul. According to Acts of Timothy (5^th century), Timothy was clubbed to death in AD 97 (80 years old) at a pagan festival in Ephesus. If this is correct, he stayed in Ephesus and finally died in the ministry.

APPLICATION

1. Paul’s life ended on a somewhat humiliating and sad note (from the world’s perspective). Because believing in Jesus is risky and not to give us status. Be ready to suffer for the gospel. Don’t withdraw because of difficulties.
2. Find your strength in Jesus when people let you down.
3. Trust that God guards until that Day what has been entrusted to you.
4. Don’t be quarrelsome but be kind to everyone. Correct your opponents with gentleness.
5. Use the Bible! Preach the Word!